Trips and Sightseeing
Trips
There is a lot to discover in our region: Visit the nearby Kolmiköytinen rock paintings or Huuhanranta, the longest and most beautiful beach around Lake Saimaa. On the way to the town of Mikkeli you will find Kummakivi, a large balancing rock. You can also explore the 17 metre high Myllykoski waterfalls or three different canals and much more.
Sightseeing
In Ruokolahti, you will gain an insight into Finland's cultural history. There is plenty to see and explore on the church hill: a large green wooden church, an 18th century bell tower, the Ruokolahti House with its traditional wooden buildings, a historic cemetery and the local history museum with a nice little café (open from the beginning of June to the end of August).
Imatra is dominated by the Vuoksi River and the Imantrankoski waterfall and is often regarded as Finland's first tourist town thanks to the visit of the Russian Empress Catherine the Great in 1772. Imatra has numerous museums and is also home to two very striking and completely different architectural jewels - the Church of the Three Crosses by Alvar Aalto and the Imatran Valtionhotelli, an Art Nouveau building from 1903 that resembles a medieval knight's castle.
Lappenranta is a town full of cultural history with numerous museums and the oldest Orthodox church in Finland in Lappeenranta Fortress.
Hiking, cycling, and kayaking tours
The area around Ruokolahti is famous for its cycling routes and - on the lake - for canoeing and kayaking. There are also many wonderful hiking trails, for example Hukkavuori (Wolf Hill) and Haukkavuori (Hawk Hill) with marvellous views.
